Wax applicator and refills



Aug. 6, 1968 J. R. MALMO WAX APPLICATOR AND REFILLS '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 17, 1967 *ifii INVENTOR JOHN R. MALMO BY M 17 ATTORNEY J. R. MALMO WAX APPLICATOR AND REFILLS Aug. 6, 1968 2 Sheets$heet :1

Filed May 17, 1967 FIG. 7

FIG. 9

0 WM mL A M R. N H 0 J ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,395,418 WAX APPLICATOR AND REFILLS John R. Malmo, Memphis, Tenn., assignor to Gem, Incorporated, Byhalia, Miss., a corporation of Mississippi Filed May 17, 1967, Ser. No. 639,072 2 Claims. (Cl. 15231) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A wax applicator and wax applicator refills for applying wax and the like to floors or other surfaces wherein there is provided a disposable pad that has convenient finger-engaging tabs for facilitating the removal and replacement of used pads or refills.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The present invention pertains to the field of brushing, scrubbing and general cleaning.

Some of the differences or advantages that the present invention has over the prior patents is as follows:

The wax applicator and wax applicator refills of the present invention include a head that has longitudinal slots for receiving a disposable pad for applying wax, and wherein the pad has supporting portions on each side thereof, and wherein there is provided a clean fingerengaging tip for removing the soiled pads without soiling the fingers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention there is provided a wax applicator and refills which include a head that has longitudinal slots for receiving a disposable pad or refill for applying wax, and wherein there is provided a clean finger-engaging tab on the pad for facilitating the removal of soiled pads Without soiling the fingers, and wherein the applicator pad will be held in place due to the interengagement of the parts and construction thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the wax applicator of the present invention and with portions of the handle broken away.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged end elevation view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the pads or refills.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary end view of the device with the pad removed.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the bottom member of the wax applicator head.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the top member of the wax applicator head.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 20 indicates the wax applicator of the present invention which includes a head that is indicated generally by the numeral 21, and the head 21 includes a top member 22 as well as a bottom member 23. Formed integral with the top member 22 is a socket 24 which has a hollow interior or opening 25 for receiving the lower end portion of a handle 26. As shown in FIG. 3, the inner or lower portion of the socket 24 is adapted to extend below the main body surface 28 of the top member :22, as indicated by the numeral 27. Depending from the surface 28 of the top member and formed integral therewith is a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending ribs 29 for a purpose to be later described, and projections 30 are arranged on the ribs 29, FIG. 10. The ends of the top member 22 have spaced apart offset lugs 31 thereon.

The bottom member 23 is of generally hollow formation and includes a base portion or bottom wall 32 as well as spaced parallel vertically disposed end walls 33 and spaced parallel upstanding front and back walls 34 and 35. The end walls 33 have spaced apart slots 36 therein for snugly receiving the lugs 31 of the top member 22. Formed integral with the bottom member 23 and arranged therewithin are spaced parallel vertically disposed wall sections 37 and 38. Inclined slots 39 are formed or provided in the head 21 as shown in the drawings. The numeral 40 indicates one of the disposable pads or refills which includes the main body portion 41 that has support portions 42 and 43 secured to the ends thereof, and these portions 42 and 43 are adapted to be received in the slots or recesses 39. The numeral 44 indicates a finger-engaging tab on the pad 40, and the tab 44 is adapted to be conveniently gripped when the pad 40 is to be removed, and this construction permits the soiled pad to be removed without soiling the fingers of the user.

The wall sections 37 include inclined upper surfaces 45 as well as recessed shoulders 46 and an intermediate recessed portion 47. The wall sections 38 include inclined upper edge portion 38, inwardly recessed portions 49 and flat edge portions 50.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided a wax applictor and refills, and when used with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, and with a pad such as the pad 40 in position on the head 21 as shown in FIG. 3 it will be seen that wax can be spread or applied to the floor or other surface in a highly efficient manner. An important aspect or feature of the present invention is the finger-engaging tab 44 on the refill pad 40, and this tab 44 is adapted to be conveniently manually manipulated so that the pad can be readily removed from the head without soiling the users fingers on the soiled pad 40. After the used or soiled pad 40 has been removed from the head a new replacement refill or pad can be readily inserted so that the wax applicator holder of the present invention can be used over and over again.

It is to be noted that the top member 22 of the head 21 contains a curved or arcuate portion 28 which is adjacent to coacting surfaces on the bottom member 23, and

wherein there is provided the elongated slots or recesses 39 whichsnugly receive the portions 4-2 and 43 of the pad 40 therein. This construction assures that the pad will be held in place with the proper amount of tension so that the accidental disengagement of the pad from the head will be prevented. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the finger-engaging tab portion 44 extends outwardly a slight sufficient difference to permit manual grip thereof for the previously described purpose.

The top member 22 and bottom member 23 are held together or maintained in their assembled relationship by means of interengaging parts such as the lugs 31 which snugly engage or fit in the slots 36.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

It will be seen that the wax applicator of the present invention includes the handle 26 which is adapted to be fixedly located in a tapered socket, and there is provided a two-piece head 21 consisting of two pieces 22 and 23 with one part or piece fixed to a handle and the second part locked to the first part by means of sockets and matching tabs. The head has the elongated slots or recesses 39 for receiving portions of the disposable pad 40. The disposable pad 40 has supporting bindings 42 and 43 of a stiff material such as paper on each side thereof, and the stiff bindings or portions 42 and 43 are adapted to engage in the longitudinal slot of the two-piece head whereby there is provided an absorbent pad for holding wax when spread or moved over a floor. The disposable pad has the stiff bindings 42 and 43 engaged in slots 39 of the head with the top side of the binding projecting above the absorbent pad, as shown in FIG. 3, to provide a clean tab 44 for removal of soiled pads without soiling the fingers.

Thus, there is provided a device which includes a light- Weight plastic head that can be easily attached to a handle by means of a tapered socket, and the head is constructed so that a piece of polyurethane or other absorbent material can be stripped over the head and held in place by the slots 39 on each side of the head. The disposable pads may consist of pieces of polyurethane with stiff paper bindings 42 and 43 to slide into the slots or recesses 39 and thereby holding the pad in place so that the present invention does not require or use any elaborate fastening devices. The top edge 44 of the paper binding may be left longer for ease in removing a worn pad. The pad may have suitable dimensions and is adapted to be used for fitting in the angular slots of the head.

The concave top section 28 of the block or head has lugs or projections 31 which fit securely into matching slots 36 on the vertical ends 33 to hold the top and bottom members 22 and 23 in their assembled relationship as one unit. The bottom member 23 has vertical ribs or wall sections extending upwardly from the bottom thereof to receive portions of ribs 29 that depend downwardly from the top 28 to give rigidity to the block or head and assure a secure fit of the two members, undercut slots in the top of the vertical ribs extending upwardly from the bottom section of the head to receive knobbed horizontal ribs extending downwardly from the top section of the block and knobbed ribs snap into undercuts of the vertical ribs to eliminate use of the top sections. Cutout sections on all four vertical walls of the bottom members form angular slots that extend downwardly when the top is assembled to hold the foam pad securely for waxing.

The head is adapted to be made of a suitable material such as plastic and has the top surface 28 with the rearwardly mounted handle receptacle 24 placed at an angle of approximately 40 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane. The receptacle 24 has a tapered inner construction for a friction fit of the handle 26. The slots or recesses 39 extend the entire width of the top of the back edges of the head to receive and hold firmly the foam pad. The foam pad 40 extends around three sides of the surfaces or head across the entire width of the entire top edges -of-the-bloek-.- a I The foam pad 40 is adapted to be securely fastened to the heavy paper tabs 42 and 43 which may be perforated for folding over edge portions thereof.

It is to be noted that the present invention provides disposable refills, and this is an important feature of the present'invention. The parts may have instructions printed thereon and the'device is adapted to be used in such a manner that the fingers of 'the user will not get soiled from 'wax, dirt or the like. The refills may be made so that they are washable and reusable. In addition, there are no parts to rust or corrode and no metal is used. By making the pad 40 of a material such as polyurethene certain advantages are assured since such material is porous material and will not mat down. The round configuration of the head provides for a smoother application, and since the present invention has no metal parts even if it is stored outside or in adverse weather conditions it will not rust. Instead of making the pads 40 of polyurethene the pads may be made of other material such as non-woven material or the like, and there are no moving parts in the present invention. The parts 42 and 43 may be secured to the member 40 in any suitable manner such as by sewing, or may be glued in place or the like. The curved shape of the head or the base helps to assure that the wax is ahead of the device and a more even spread of the wax is assured with this construction. The angle of the handle socket 24 is important since it permits a user such as a woman of average size to comfortably use the wax applicator in the most efiicient manner.

When the head 21 is in its assembled position, the projections 30 snugly engage the indentations or recesses 49, and the lower edges of the ribs 29 engage the shoulders 46 so that there is provided a snug and firm support between the parts. In addition, the slots or recesses 39 are partially defined by the inclined edges or surfaces 45 and 48 in conjunction with the other coacting parts.

What is claimed is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a wax applicator including a head, said head comprising top and bottom members, said top member having a handle receiving receptacle thereon which is arranged at an angle of approximately 40 degrees with respect to the plane of the top, interengaging means on said top member and bottom member for maintaining said members in their relationship, said head having angularly arranged slots therein, extending upwardly and outwardly a pad having support portions on the opposite edges thereof snugly received in said slots, and a finger-engaging tab on one of said support portions projecting upwardly and outwardly or the pad.

2. A wax applicator comprising a head including a top member and a bottom member, an inclined handle receiving socket on said top member, said top member having a curved formation, a pair of spaced parallel ribs depending from the lower surface of said top member and said ribs extending longitudinally therealong, said ribs having projections on the lower portions thereof, spaced apart lugs on the outer ends of said top member; said bottom member including a horizontally disposed bottom wall, vertically disposed spaced parallel end walls, and vertically disposed upstanding front and back walls, said end walls having slots for receiving said lugs, a plurality of spaced parallel vertically disposed wall sections in said bottom member, there being spaces in the front and back portions of said head providing recesses; a disposable pad including a main body portion surrounding the outer surface of said bottom wall, and front and back walls, said pad having support portions on opposite edges thereof which fit in the recesses of the head, a fingerengaging tab integral with one of said support portions, certain of said wall sections having inclined surfaces, recesses and shoulders and inner lower curved sections,

other of said wall sections including inclined edges, inwardly directed recessed portions and fiat surfaces, said last named recessed portions being engaged by the projections on said ribs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,936,361 11/1933 Kaufmann 15-231 XR 1,961,518 6/1934 Larkin 15-231 6 Woods 15-231 XR Nelson. Franzene 15244 XR George 15-231 FOREIGN PATENTS France.

6/ 1960 Great Britain.

Great Britain.

2,222,368 11/1940 Lux 15-231 XR DANIEL BLUM,Examiner. 

